The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-07-11
BURIED IN LI.E.

Iuc tcrcmouy OF thc bi"'h wi " T"
81. Louis Convcnt-symboio of Death
TO the World.
When the first portion OF the cere-
mony was going on these Sisters who
were to say farewell to the world sat
with the company of Magdalens. n por-
ton of the community. The company
of Sisters present was made up of the
Magdalens and the penltents' the lat
ter being those who have yielded to
the Informative influence of the nuns.
From their place among these the
four advanced to the window and gave
their momeptous replies to the intcrro'
gatives and appended their names to
their written remuneration OF the world.
The silver heart was presented to each,
and then the black wells were laid be-
fore the prizes; who blessed, and rs each
knelt before him he handed her the
veil, expressing the prayer that the
veil might shut out all sights and
thoughts of the world. To make this
more impressive, the candidates before
rising pressed the veil against the
eyes, as if to begin the blindness to the
world right there. A crown of white
flowers went with the veil and crowned
the head after the black covering had
been thrown over the white serge,
which was done in the presence of the
congregation.
BURIED IN LIFE.
Then came tho most striking portion
of the ceremony. the burial service.
With the long black wells streaming
from under the white crown, the four
Sisters Frustrated themselves before the
altar. At the same instant six little
girls in white came tripping in from
the side door, followed by two Sisters
with an immense pail made of black
serge with a white fringe aud cross.
At a signal the four candidates were
covered with this sepulchral-looking
envelope, which. rs it fell over the
kneeling forms. was caught on each
side by dmpled hands of the children,
who looked inquiringly around, not es-
pecially affected by the scene. Then,
while the black folds rose and fell with
the breathing of those beneath, the
Liberia and funeral prayers were chant
ed sweetly above them by the white
robed chorus. A beautiful effect was
given the chanting by the presence in
the choir of q sweet alto voice that
Aoated like benediction through tho
room.
A glad anthem Sung by all greeted
the removal of tho pail and the pre-
sentation of the crucifix, which was
kissed and attached to the habit just
over the heart. The reception of the
cross was followed BY the singing in
Latin of the words of Paul: "God for
bid that should glory in any thing
save the cross of Jesus Christ, by which
the world is cruciiicd to me and to
the world"
The closing prayers were followed by
TIE Deum, which was beautifully in
toned, and then the nine Sisters, whose
relations to the world had been so
changed in the five minutes that had
passed and who had been drawn nearer
the older Sisters, passed down the line
and bowling before each companion re-
ceived the kiss of peace from the COM
munity. The clergy then withdrew,
and a moment later the Mother
Superior led her flock back to the
cloister, the doors changed, nun
fastened out to extinguish the candles
on the altar, handkerchief fluttered
tearfully in the gallery, and the solemn
scene was over.--St. LOUIS Post-DIS-